This article shows you how to change the appearance of the desktop icons that are used by Windows. You can do this by using the selection of icons offered by the operating system, by downloading new ones directly from the web or by creating them from scratch with an image editor. You can also customize desktop shortcut icons, change standard icons, or remove the small arrow that appears in the lower left corner of a shortcut icon.
Steps
Method 1 of 6: Change the Desktop System Icons
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and appears in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Choose the "Settings" option by clicking the icon
It is located at the bottom left of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Select the Personalization item
It features a monitor icon and is located within the "Settings" screen.
This page can be accessed directly by selecting an empty spot on the desktop with the right mouse button and selecting "Personalize" from the context menu that appeared
Step 4. Choose the Themes option
It is one of the items in the left sidebar of the menu in the "Personalization" section.
Step 5. Select the Desktop Icon Settings link
It is displayed at the top right of the "Themes" page. The new "Desktop Icon Settings" system window will appear.
- If you've never made any changes to the current Windows theme, this link will appear in the center of the page under the "Related Settings" section.
- To have the possibility to choose another theme among those available, you can click the link Purchase more themes in the Store located within the "Apply a theme" section. Remember that some themes also change the appearance of system icons that appear on the desktop.
Step 6. Select the icon you want to change in the main window pane
- For example, you can change the icon of the Trash can (full or empty) or that of the "Computer" resource (named This PC).
- If you want these icons to appear on the desktop, select the corresponding check button located in the "Desktop icons" box. Likewise, deselect this button to prevent it from being displayed.
- Select the check button "Change desktop icons with the theme" to enable the possibility that these icons can be customized directly with those of the chosen theme.
Step 7. Press the Change Icon… button
It is located in the lower right part of the window.
Step 8. Choose an icon
You will have two types of icons to choose from:
- System icons - Simply select one of the default Windows icons.
- Custom icons - Push the button Browse, then select the folder containing the icons you created, edited or downloaded from the web using the menu in the left sidebar of the dialog box that appeared. At this point select the icon you want to use and press the button You open.
Step 9. Press the OK button
In this way, the chosen icon will be assigned to the selected program and displayed directly on the desktop if its setting is active.
Step 10. Press the Apply buttons successively And OK.
By doing this, you will confirm that you want to make the changes you have made and that you want to change the selected desktop icon (s) to those chosen.
Method 2 of 6: Change the Link and Folder Icons
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and appears in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Choose the "File Explorer" option by clicking the icon
It is located on the left side of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Select the Desktop entry
It is one of the folders shown in the menu in the left sidebar of the "File Explorer" window that has appeared.
Step 4. Choose a link or folder icon
The connection icons are characterized by a small white square, located in the lower left corner, inside which there is an arrow.
Using this method it is not possible to change the icon of a specific file (for example a text file or an executable file)
Step 5. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window. A toolbar will appear located at the top of the same window.
Step 6. Press the Properties button
It is characterized by a white square inside which there is a red check mark. It is located in the "Open" group of the "Home" tab.
Alternatively you can select the icon with the right mouse button and choose the option Property from the context menu that appeared.
Step 7. Access the "Change Icon" window of the selected item
The procedure to follow varies according to the type of icon you want to change:
- Link icon - Access the tab Connection in the "Properties" window, then press the button Change icon … located at the bottom of the box.
- Folder icon - Access the tab Customize in the "Properties" window, then press the button Change icon located at the bottom of the "Folder Icon" box.
Step 8. Choose an icon
You will have two types of icons to choose from:
- System icons - Simply select one of the default Windows icons using the dialog box that appeared.
- Custom icons - Push the button Browse, then select the folder containing the icons you created, edited or downloaded from the web, using the menu in the left sidebar of the dialog box that appeared. At this point, select the icon you want to use and press the button You open.
Step 9. Press the OK button
In this way, the chosen icon will be assigned to the selected item.
Step 10. Press the Apply buttons successively And OK.
By doing this, you will confirm that you want to make the changes you made and that you want to change the selected desktop icon (s) to those chosen.
Method 3 of 6: Download New Icons
Step 1. Launch an internet browser
Microsoft Edge is the default browser on Windows 10, but you can use Google Chrome, Firefox, Opera, or Internet Explorer if you want.
Step 2. Search for new icons for Windows
Type the string download Windows icons into the browser address bar, then press the Enter key.
If you wish, you can narrow the search by adding the name of the program for which you are looking for a new icon (for example windows icon this pc) or by using the file format related to icons (for example ICO)
Step 3. Download the icon you want to use
To do this, access the website that contains the icon in question and press the relative button Download or Download. The selected file will be stored on your computer.
If you've chosen to download an icon pack, it's most likely contained in a compressed file, so you'll need to extract its contents into a normal folder before you can continue
Step 4. Choose the "File Explorer" option by clicking the icon
To do this, access the "Start" menu by selecting the icon
then select the item
Step 5. Select the Desktop entry
It is one of the folders shown in the menu in the left sidebar of the "File Explorer" window that has appeared.
Step 6. Select the folder where the icons are located
If you have only downloaded one file, you will simply have to select it
Step 7. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window.
Step 8. Press the Move to button
It is located within the "Organize" group of the Home tab of the "File Explorer" window ribbon.
Step 9. Choose the Images option
It is located in the middle of the drop-down menu that appeared.
If you don't want to move inside the directory Images icon files you downloaded, you can choose any folder on your computer.
Step 10. Press the Move button
In this way, the selected item or items will automatically be moved within the chosen folder. Remember that you will no longer have to move or delete them from the new location.
Step 11. Change the icon of the program you want using the one you just downloaded
To do this, you will have to press the button Browse of the "Change Icon" window, access the folder Images and select the new icon.
Method 4 of 6: Create an Icon
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and appears in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Type the keyword paint into the "Start" menu, then press the Enter key
Make sure you press the Enter key only when the Paint program icon, which features a color palette and a brush, appears in the results list at the top of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Go to Paint's File menu
It features a blue button located in the upper left corner of the program window.
Step 4. Choose the Open option from the drop-down menu File.
The "Open" dialog box will appear, allowing you to access the desired folder.
If you have the desire to create a custom icon from scratch, you can skip this step and start the creation process right away
Step 5. Select an image
To do this, you will first need to select the folder (for example Images) in which it is contained, using the left sidebar of the "Open" window.
If you have decided to design a new icon from scratch, skip this step
Step 6. Press the Open button
The selected image will open within Paint.
If you have decided to design a new icon from scratch, skip this step
Step 7. Access Paint's File menu again
It features a blue button located in the upper left corner of the program window.
Step 8. Choose the Save As option
It is located at the top of the menu File.
Step 9. Choose the BMP Image item
It is one of the options on the menu Save with name. This will bring up the "Save As" dialog where you can name the file and choose where to save it.
Step 10. Type the name you want to give the new icon file, then add the extension
.ico
.
This way, you can be sure that the new file has the correct format to be used as a system icon.
For example you could choose the name "shortcut.ico" or "link.ico"
Step 11. Select the folder where you want the new file to be saved
To do this, use the left sidebar of the "Save As" window.
The system folder Images it's a great place to store your custom icons.
Step 12. Press the Save button
It is located in the lower right part of the "Save As" window. At this point, the file will be saved in the indicated folder.
Step 13. Change the icon of the program you want using the one you just created
To do this, you will have to press the button Browse in the "Change Icon" window, navigate to the folder where you saved the new icon (for example Images) and select the relevant file.
Method 5 of 6: Add a Shortcut on the Desktop
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and appears in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Choose the "File Explorer" option by clicking the icon
It is located on the left side of the "Start" menu.
Step 3. Select the Desktop entry
It is one of the folders shown in the menu in the left sidebar of the "File Explorer" window that has appeared.
Step 4. Go to the Home tab
It is located in the upper left of the "File Explorer" window.
Step 5. Press the New Item button
It is located within the "New" group of the Home tab of the "File Explorer" window ribbon.
Step 6. Choose the Link option
It is located within the "New Item" drop-down menu. A new Link Wizard dialog will appear.
Step 7. Press the Browse button
It is placed in the center of the appeared window. This will bring up a new system dialog.
Step 8. Use the "Search for files or folders" window to locate the program or folder you want to link to
For example, if the item under consideration is inside the folder Documents, you will have to select this last item from the list.
In order to select the desired file or program, you may need to access several different folders
Step 9. Press the OK button
This will create a shortcut of the selected file directly on your computer desktop.
Remember that if you move the original file or rename it, its link will no longer work
Step 10. Press the Next button and give the link a name
The default name used by Windows is the same as the original chosen item.
Step 11. Press the Finish button
It is located in the lower right part of the window. This way, the shortcut to the chosen item will automatically be created on your computer desktop.
Method 6 of 6: Remove the Arrow from a Link Icon
Step 1. Access the "Start" menu by clicking the icon
It features the Windows logo and appears in the lower left corner of the desktop. Alternatively, you can press the ⊞ Win key on your keyboard.
Step 2. Type the keyword regedit into the "Start" menu
You will see the "regedit" program icon at the top of the search results list.
Step 3. Click the regedit icon
It features a blue cube made up of many small cubes and is located at the top of the "Start" menu.
Step 4. Press the Yes button when prompted
The system editor window will appear.
Step 5. Go to the "Explorer" folder
To do this, follow these instructions:
- Expand the node HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE of the tree menu by clicking on the small one V. placed on his left. This is one of the main folders that make up the Windows registry;
- Now expand the node SOFTWARE;
- Access the folder Microsoft;
- Expand the node Windows;
- Select the folder CurrentVersion;
- Finally click the item Explorer.
Step 6. Enter the Edit menu
It is located in the upper left corner of the Windows Registry Editor window.
Step 7. Choose the New item, then select the option Key.
A new key will be created within the "Explorer" node of the tree menu, characterized by a folder icon.
Step 8. Name the new key you just created Shell Icons, then hit the Enter key
Make sure you type the name exactly as it appears in the step
Step 9. Enter the Edit menu again
It is located in the upper left corner of the Windows Registry Editor window.
Step 10. Choose the New item, then select the option String value.
A new item will be created inside the newly created "Shell Icons" key.
Step 11. Type the code 29, then press the Enter key
The newly created "string value" will be renamed in this way.
Step 12. Select the string value "29" with a double click of the mouse
The "Edit String" window will appear.
Step 13. Enter the code
% windir% / System32 / shell32.dll, -50
in the "Value data" field of the "Edit string" window.
This is the second field starting from the top.
Step 14. Press the OK button
This way the changes made to the registry will be saved.
Step 15. Restart your computer
After the reboot is complete, the shortcut icons on the desktop should no longer have the small arrow in the lower left corner.
Advice
- If you have chosen to download new icons from the web, you may have to incur costs for their purchase.
- Some Windows themes also change the system icons that appear on the desktop. To enable this feature, access the "Desktop Icon Settings" window from the section Personalization, then select the "Change desktop icons to theme" checkbox and press the button OK.
- You can download new themes for Windows 10 using the Store. It is one of the many applications pre-installed in Windows 10.
